Patricia Neal dies

The Academy Award winner died of lung cancer at her home on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts on Sunday (08.08.10).

The actress made her movie debut in the 1949 comedy "John Loves Mary", in which she starred opposite the late former US President Ronald Reagan.

The star had endured a life filled with tragedy.

Following an unhappy affair with her 'Fountainhead' co-star Gary Cooper - during which she became pregnant and had an abortion - she married British author Roald Dahl, writer of numerous children's stories such as 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'James and the Giant Peach'.

In 1960, the couple's infant son suffered brain damage after the pram he was in was struck by a taxi in New York City.

After moving to England with her husband, the couple's seven-year-old daughter died from measles encephalitis in 1962.

In 1964, she received the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in the movie 'Hud', in which she appeared in with the late screen legend Paul Newman.

A year later at the age of 39, she had three strokes which left her in a coma for three weeks.

After regaining the ability to walk and talk post-stroke - with the help of her husband - she went on to gain three Emmy nominations and an Oscar nomination for her role in 'The Subject Was Roses'.

She divorced her husband in 1983 after she discovered he had been having a long affair with one of her best friends.

Patricia is survived by her four children - Tessa, the mother of model Sophie Dahl, Ophelia, Theo and Lucy - 10 grandchildren and step grandchildren and a great-grandchild.